Senator BROWN (3:45 PM) —I thank Senator O'Brien for that explanation. Pursuant to contingent notice of motion standing in my name, I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent Senator Brown moving a motion relating to the conduct of the business of the Senate, namely a motion to give precedence to general business notice of motion no. 318.

This matter is both urgent and important. There arose in 1978, after the invasion of East Timor by the Indonesian military in 1975, the situation where Australia became the one country that gave effective recognition of Indonesian's control of East Timor.

Senator Hill —Can I make an attempt at a constructive and helpful point of order to indicate that, as the numbers are there for the suspension, perhaps we could save a bit of time by having these motions carried and move to the substantive debate.

Senator BROWN —I would be prepared to do that.

Question resolved in the affirmative.